Resident Experience
Our mission is to provide a comprehensive and well-rounded surgical training program that equips residents with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional perioperative care. Through exposure to over 1100 cases, our residents gain invaluable hands-on experience in a variety of surgical specialties, including acute care surgery, trauma and critical care, general surgery, MIS, bariatric and robotic surgery, surgical endoscopy and oncology, breast, vascular, thoracic, plastic, pediatric, transplant, and cardiac surgery. Our program also offers exposure to urology, ENT, neurosurgery, and orthopedic surgery, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and a broader understanding of related fields. By providing a diverse and immersive learning environment, we aim to prepare our residents for successful careers in surgical practice.
Applying to the Surgery Residency Program
The Berkshire Health System Surgery Department participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). This service is provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and streamlines the residency application process.
- The ERAS application must be received by December 1
- To compete your ERAS application, you will need:
- ERAS Application
- Personal Statement
- Dean’s Letter
- Medical School Transcript
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- USMLE Step 1 & 2 or COMLEX Level 1, 2, and 2 PE scores
- Completed applications are reviewed using a holistic process to identify qualified applicants.
Curriculum
| PGY-I | ||
| Emergency Medicine | 1 Month | |
| Radiology | 2 Weeks | |
| Anesthesia | 2 Weeks | |
| Neurosurgery | 2 Weeks | |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | 2 Weeks | |
| Surgical ICU | 1 Month | |
| Medicine ICU | 1 Month | |
| *General Surgery | 7 Months | |
| PGY-II | ||
| Surgical ICU | 2 Months | |
| Transplant [University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center] | 6 Weeks | |
| *General Surgery | 8 Months | |
| PGY-III | ||
| Surgical ICU | 1 Month | |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery [Baystate Medical Center] | 1 Month | |
| Surgical Oncology | 2 Months | |
| *General Surgery | 8 Months | |
| PGY-IV | ||
| Trauma Surgery [Baystate Medical Center] | 6 Weeks | |
| Pediatric Surgery [Baystate Medical Center] | 2 Months | |
| *General Surgery | 8 Months | |
| PGY-V | ||
| *General Surgery | 12 Months | |
Surgical Didactic Schedule Sample
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 0700 | Mock Orals/Case Presentations | Review/Thoracic Conference | Multidisciplinary Breast Conference | Basic Science or SCORE/TrueLearn Review | |
| 0730 | Cancer Conference | ||||
| 0800 | Trauma Grand Rounds | ||||
| 0900 | M&M Conference | ||||
| 1300 | Multidisciplinary Rounds | Multidisciplinary Rounds | Multidisciplinary Rounds |
Scholarly Activity
As an institution, we have great interest in not only individual patient care but also furthering the science of medicine on a global level.
We strongly support research efforts amongst our residents and faculty. Every year, BMC hosts a Resident Research Forum in which all residents can present their work to the hospital faculty as a whole. This forum includes research work from all residency programs at our medical center, with awards granted to the top performers.
We also hold a monthly research forum focused on the discussion of resident/faculty research and QI projects. A research/IRB representative, biostatistician, medical librarian and our DIO, Liana Fraenkel are available to facilitate the research process.
In addition, our surgical residents are strongly encouraged to present research at local, regional, and national and international meetings:
- New England Surgical Society (NESS)
- International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
- American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS)
- American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS)
- Chest Wall Injury Society (CWIS)
Faculty
General Surgery Faculty | Bariatrics/Minimally Invasive Surgery | Colorectal | Endoscopy | Neurosurgery | Orthopaedics | Thoracic | Trauma/Critical Care | Vascular | Vein Care
Marcella Bradway, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Surgery Department Chair
Michael R. DiSiena, DO, FACS – Program Director
2024 Surgical Residents
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Zaid Muslim, M.D.
Aga Khan University
I grew up and attended medical school in Karachi, Pakistan and moved to the United States, in 2020 for clinical research, in Thoracic Surgery, in Connecticut and New York, followed by 2 years of preliminary General Surgery training, at Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio. I love travelling, taking pictures outdoors, and have an Instagram account, with over 1000 examples, that I am extremely proud of. My favorite travel destination is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, that I visited a few years ago. I am a big fan of cars and Formula 1, which I have been religiously following for over 15 years now! I am especially close to my family, despite our long distances. I met my wife in medical school, in Pakistan, over 10 years ago and she matched into Psychiatry, at BHS last year. We are so fortunate to be spending the next phase of our life together in the Berkshires.
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Mariana Chávez Rodríguez, M.D.
Universidad Francisco Marroquin College
Mariana was born and raised in Guatemala, attending medical school at Universidad Francisco Marroquin. In pursuit of her surgical dream career, she moved to Boston to work as a research fellow with the cardiovascular surgery team. While there, she obtained an MPH from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. In her free time, she loves snowboarding, outdoor activities, trying new sports (she completed her first triathlon last year), traveling, and spending time with her husband, Rodrigo, dog, Luna, and friends.
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Hannah Firth, M.D.
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hannah was born and raised in northern Utah. This is where she found her love for the mountains and the outdoors. She attended Weber State University, majoring in chemistry. After graduation, she worked as a certified nursing assistant at the University of Utah. Here, she honed her compassionate nature and gained invaluable experience in caring for others, laying the groundwork for her future endeavors in medicine. She attended medical school at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Meridian, Idaho. Outside of medicine, Hannah finds joy in a myriad of activities. She enjoys hitting the trails for a run, skiing through powdery slopes, indulging in the creative process of baking or crafting, and spending time with her husband Sam.
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Tatev Sahakyants, M.D.
Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi
Born and raised in Armenia, Tatev developed an early passion for science and medicine. This led her to pursue a career in medicine, where she discovered her calling in surgery. This propelled her into a surgical residency, marking the beginning of her surgical career. Tatev’s deep interest in surgery and surgical research later took her to the Mayo Clinic and then to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she contributed to pioneering projects focusing on regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. After years of dedication to research and science, Tatev is transitioning back to the clinical setting. This change underscores her belief in the essential integration of science and patient care, illustrating her journey from patient interactions to research explorations and now returning to direct patient care. Alongside her professional life, Tatev enjoys a vibrant personal life. She is happily married and a loving mother to two daughters. The family shares a love for travel, especially to tropical destinations, and enjoys hosting lively BBQ parties, bringing together friends and family in their home in Bedford, NH.
Program FAQ’s
01
How many attempts to pass the COMLEX or USMLE steps are accepted?
COMLEX score: 500 or higher; 1st attempt is preferred.
USMLE Step 1: a score of 229 or above and Step 2: a score of 230 or above; 1rst attempt is preferred.
02
What if I have not completed all of my COMLEX or USMLE exams?
Please be sure to include the results of all exams that you have completed and include on the application whether any missing exams have been scheduled yet. It is a MA state requirement that USMLE Step 1 & 2 or COMLEX 1, 2, and 2 PE be completed and submitted in order to obtain a medical license, therefore all three exams MUST have been completed and passed prior to May in order to ensure sufficient time to apply for a physician limited medical license.
03
How long since graduating from Medical School is acceptable?
You must have graduated within five (5) years of applying to the program.
04
How many recommendation letters are required?
Three (3) letters or recommendation are required in addition to a Dean’s Letter.
05
Do recommendation letters have to be from institutions/physicians within the United States?
No, your recommendation letters do not have to come from locations in the United States, but we do strongly encourage that most, if not all, of your letters are from surgeons.
06
How many positions do you offer per year?
We offer two (2) categorical and two (2) preliminary positions per year.
07
How many ERAS applications do you receive?
We receive approximately 800 applications a year.
08
When is your application deadline?
The deadline to apply to our program is December 1st.
09
When do you schedule interviews?
Interviews are scheduled from October – December.
10
How can I apply to your program?
We accept applications ONLY via ERAS. Please do not send any applications via email, fax, or phone.
Surgical Residency Affiliate Sites
